TOMAHAWK
US, 1951, 82 minutes, Colour.
Van Heflin, Yvonne de Carlo, Alex Nicol, Preston Foster, Jack Oakie, Tom Tully, Rock Hudson, Susan Cabot.
Directed by George Sherman.
Tomahawk is one of the many brief westerns made by Universal Studios in the first half of the 1950s. They still stand up quite well because they are straightforward, have a strong plot, have stock characters which are recognisable and also, many of them have serious themes. Tomahawk is one of these.
In the late 1940s a number of films explored the attitudes of the military and the politicians towards the Indians. Breakthrough films included The Devil’s Doorway and the classic Broken Arrow with James Stewart and Jeff Chandler as Cochise. This film is in that vein. It presents the Indians sympathetically, understanding their attacks on the whites. It presents the military, the double-dealings of the politicians, sympathetic white scouts who had intermarried with the Indians, the hopes for the treaties – and the breaking of the treaties.
Van Heflin is a very serious leading character. Yvonne de Carlo was at home with this kind of role. Alex Nicol is once again a supreme villain. The supporting cast includes the veteran Preston Foster and comedian Jack Oakie. It was directed by George Sherman, director of many of these brief westerns at Universal. They include The Battle at Apache Pass, War Arrow, Border River, Dawn at Socorro, Chief Crazy Horse and at Columbia, the fine western drama, also with Van Heflin, Count Three and Pray.
1.The impact of the brief western films of the 1950s? Story, characters, issues? Military and Indians?
2.The western locations, the west, the forts, the mountains? Musical score?
3.The title, the tomahawk as a symbol?
4.Relationships between the Indians and the American government, treaties, the military enforcing these? Meetings? The government having plans for roads through buffalo territory? Lying to the Indians? This kind of film, on the side of the Indians, critiquing the whites around 1950?
5.Jim Bridger as the focus, with Monahseetah, people thinking that this was his wife, the reality of his wife, the son of the chief, her being killed? His role as a scout and a trapper? His friendship with Beckworth? The interactions with Colonel Carrington? Dancey and his suspicions and hostility? Bridger in the camp, tactical advice? The issue of whose side he was on? Julie and her riding out of the camp, the confrontation with the Indian, Bridger’s killing him? Taking a stance? The discussions with Red Cloud? The decisions as regards the fighting, his advice? The truth about Dancey? The battle, no survivors except Dancey, Jim Bridger pursuing him, the final fight, Dancey being killed with the arrow? His relationship with Julie, her prejudice, her change of heart? His having Monahseetah as his adopted daughter? The future of this kind of man of the west?
6.Colonel Carrington, the military, the meetings with the Indian chiefs, the opening with the camera going along the chiefs, the whites, the truth and the lies? The strategies? The treaties? The politicians from Washington? Colonel Carrington and his having to set up the fort? Straight up and down, his friendship with Bridger? Dancey considering him weak? Administering the fort, sending Beckworth out to be a scout for the incoming military? The final decisions, the fight? No survivors? His representing the strong side of the military?
7.Dancey, presumptuous, young, his stories about serving on the militia after the civil war, the massacre of the Indians? Shivington and his religious mania? His being responsible for the death of Bridger’s wife? Julie learning of this, communicating it to Bridger? Dancey and his manner, the attraction towards Julie, her repelling him? His going out with the group, persuading the commander to do battle with the Indians? The background of his having shot the young Indian trying to steal the horses? The massacre, his escape, the pursuit by Bridger, the fight, his being shot by the Indian?
8.Julie and Dan, travelling, entertaining? Dan and his injury, Bridger and his skill with getting the arrow out? His recovery? Julie and her attraction towards Jim, thinking Monahseetah was his wife? Jim asking her to look after her, her racial prejudice? Her wanting to say she was sorry, her stubbornness, Dan’s advice? Her repelling Dancey? Going out riding, the rescue by Bridger? The bond with Monahseetah, the gift, the women bonding?
9.An interesting picture and re-creation of the American west, the military and the Indians, prejudice and sympathy, treaties and politics in 1870?
